Stem Cells Across The Curriculum

In 1942, Conrad Waddington coined the term “epigenetics” to describe the complex relationship between genes and their environments and applied this notion to development proposing irreversible paths of cell differentiation later referred to as the Waddington Landscape. This visual metaphor of rivers, valleys, and mountains was meant to depict stable cell states and barriers that restricted cell specific lineages. An historical overview and contemporary analysis of this model in the context of new findings in stem cell biology are addressed in the following articles and dynamic videos. A paradigm shift is underway with respect to cellular reprogramming where the path of cell differentiation is no longer considered a series of linear steps for which there is no reversal. Removing cells from their niche or stimulating them to differentiate and divide with external factors has led to a new field of research and regenerative medicine as depicted in the New York Times ECM video and additional videos in the Video Guide titled Stem Cell Therapies: Hope & Hype. More recently, there have been calls for renaming mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based on the discovery that transplanted MSCs appear to influence regeneration through trophic factors and epigenetic reprogramming of cells in the recipient tissue. Thus, a proposal by lead researcher Arnold Caplan has emerged that they should be referred to as Medicinal Signaling Cells.

1. Animations: These videos were created by Bruce Conklin and the Gladstone Institutes and reviews nuclear reprogramming protocols for inducing pluripotency and multipotency (Video1: iPSC to Direct Reprogramming), and functionality of differentiated cells post induction (Video 2: CM-RBC and Video 3: M-chambered iPS-CV). Permission to post for educational use and non-commercial use received from copyright holder, The Gladstone Institutes, on January 20, 2012 from Jeanette Borzo, Chief Communications Officer at the Gladstone Institutes: jeanette.borzo@gladstone.ucsf.edu  and videos were received from Elena Lewis Administrator for Bruce Conklin, M.D., Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes elana.lewis@gladstone.ucsf.edu
2. Visual Review: Hochedlinger, K. & Plath, K.  2009. Epigentic reprogramming and induced pluripotency. Development. 136:509-523. Link to ppt slides.
3. Video: Inwin, D. (Director). 2008. Stem Cells Breakthrough. Link  NOVA Stem Cell Now (Producer).
4. Animation: Worldstemcell. March 9, 2010. Cellular Reprogramming Animation. YouTube. 2:46 minute animation reviewing somatic cell gene expression and the Yamanaka reprogramming factors in the context of induced pluripotent stem cell protocols. Link
5. Film: Hardie, A. & Blackburn, C. 2012. Stem Cells The Future: An Introduction to iPS cells. EuroStem Cells Link
6. Video: Singh, V. Sept. 17, 2012. Extracellular Matrix. New  York Times. Video/Health (4:23 min).  Eurostemcell. Link. 15 min video reviewing the identification of the Yamanaka reprogramming factors.
7. Leading Edge Review:  Goldberg, A. et al. 2007. Epigenetics: A landscape takes shape. Cell.  128(4):635-638. Link
8. News Feature: Powell, K. 2005. Stem cell niches: It’s the ecology, stupid! Nature. 435 (7040): 268-270. Link
9. Research Highlight: Baumann, K. 2010. Stem cells: Holding onto the memories. Nature. 11(9):593. Link
10. Research Highlight: Caplan. A. 2017. Mesenchymal stem cells: Time to change the name! Stem Cells:Translational Medicine. 6(6):1445-1451. Link